Thinking of adding a simple update to your home? Whether you’re looking to retile your backsplash, or wanting to add a tiled element to your staircase, tile is a great way to incorporate design and colour into your home.

The type of tile you use for a project can be dependent on many factors, two of the most important things to consider before picking your tile are your budget as tile costs can range from $2 per square foot to $40+ per square foot and the location (ie. will it be getting wet? is it in a high traffic area? is it going on the floor (slip-resistant) or wall?).

Let's dive into the different type of tile:

Wendy Rose Gould From Real Simple rates ceramic and porcelain as the two most popular tiles because of their durability and styles, as such they are the most ideal tile for high traffic areas. 

Ceramic tile is extremely durable making it great for high traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, it is also very easy to install making it a favourite for DIYers.  

Porcelain tile on the other hand is a little trickier to install but does offer a much more natural look. Gould interviewed Tony Castellano, a senior merchant for home depot, who said "the appeal of porcelain comes from its ability to emulate natural stone, brick, or wood—and without any of the maintenance,”

Mosaic tiles are tiles that measure under 2 inches in both length and width according to home stratosphere, and are popular for backsplash, and small rooms. Due to their small size, they are often used to create patterns and can be great as a feature.  

Granite Tiles are another great high traffic tile as its made from dense and hard igneous rock and come in a wide range of colours and styles. As they are a natural product, the veining and speckles can vary. Granite tiles are a great alternative to marble as it comes at a much lower price point!

For low-traffic areas, you can opt to use other materials such as marble, cement and natural stones - but keep in mind, these materials do require more upkeep. 

Marble is one of the most elegant materials and comes with a much higher price tag. Since the material is more porous than others, marble requires more upkeep and is more susceptible to screeching and staining.  

Natural stones such as limestone and travertine are great for lower traffic areas as they are more susceptible to cracking. These types of stone work well for feature walls and fireplaces but should be kept away from water as they are porous and can stain, as explained by Real Simple.

Now that we’ve discussed how to choose your next tile, check out some of these awesome ways to add tile into your home.  

Fireplace

A fireplace is the centrepiece of the room, and what better way to make it stand out than with tile. Whether you’re looking for a sleek modern look or a rustic natural look, tiling your fireplace is a great way to make it stand out.  

Photo: Chase Daniel

Kitchen Backsplash

Kitchen backsplash is a great way to add finishing touches to your kitchen. Mosaics are a great option here as they add lots of character!

Photo: Wallpops

Shower

Showers require tiling, but why not use this as an opportunity to add a wow factor to your bathroom by using a herringbone pattern to make it shine. 

Photo: Mckimm

Staircase

Adding tile to your staircase is a great way to instantly add character to each step. I love the antique tiling on this staircase.  

Photo: Hello Lovely Studio

Thinking of doing some home upgrades this year? Why not start by updating your bathroom? There are so many reasons to renovate a bathroom, whether your bathroom simply needs a new look, you’re seeking more storage space, or you're looking to add value to your home. 

Updating your bathroom doesn’t necessarily mean starting from scratch. Changing out your vanity or shower, or even adding a fresh coat of paint are great ways to upgrade your space without spending a fortune.

If your interested in learning about current bathroom trends, keep reading to see which bathroom styles are expected to be popular this year.

Minimal Design

Your bathroom is meant to feel like a place of solace and calm, and the new minimal design trend is all about making you feel as though your spending a relaxing day at the spa. To achieve this look, aim to reduce clutter or bulky and intrinsic bathroom fixtures.

Designer Jackie Di Cara tells House & Home to achieve this look by skipping handles on vanity millwork to add a sleeker look to your bathroom. 

Image courtesy of House & Home

Floating Vanities

Floating Vanities have been trending for a few years, and don’t appear to be going anywhere soon. A floating vanity is a great idea for a bathroom that is on the smaller side as it makes the room feel bigger - a big perk for us Vancouverites who are sometimes strapped for space in our homes.  

Image courtesy of Adore Magazine

Gold Fixtures

Adding gold fixtures to your bathroom is a great way to add warmth and elegance. Bathrooms have a tendency to come across as sterile, so adding a touch of gold is a great way to warm it up. You can add gold through fixtures like vanity lighting, towel hooks, faucets and showerheads.  

Image Courtesy of Loughlin furniture

Vessel Sinks

A vessel sink is a sink that sits on top of the bathroom counter, as opposed to sunken in. One of the best things about Vessel Sinks is that they don’t take away from the storage underneath and allow for more streamlined plumbing.  Pairing a Vessel Sink with a wall-mounted faucet is a great way to add a statement to your bathroom. 

Image courtesy of Mandarin Stone

Natural Elements

Designers are predicting a turn towards organic, natural bathroom designs. Massimo Ballucchi, executive director of marketing for Cosentino Americas explains in  Better Homes and Gardens “As we move into organic trends, we will soon see more mixing of elements, such as Silestone that imitates the look of marble or cement paired with natural wood,” says Ballucchi.

The idea behind including natural elements in bathrooms draws on the minimalistic design, creating a soothing space that brings nature inside. In addition to using natural stone, cement and wood elements, adding greenery is another great way to achieve this look. 

Image Courtesy of Studio Ezra

Backlit Mirrors

Changing a mirror is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways of enhancing a bathroom. Linda Lang, senior staff designer at Robern states in Better Homes and Gardens that opting for “Backlit mirrors and medicine cabinets are an exceptional choice for modern bathroom design,”. A backlit mirror is a great design choice as it is both functional and beautiful. A backlit mirror makes ideal lighting for applying makeup. 

Image courtesy of Contemporist

I hope these updates on bathroom design trends are helpful if you're thinking of making a few changes in your home. Should you be looking to purchase a new home with updated bathroom spaces, don't hestiate to contact me!